Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West Audiobook

" This new book by Bhutto was finished days before her assassination. The first 2/3 are a bit wonkish (unless you were a Government & International Studies major like me) and self-serving, but the last part has some good ideas and insights about the future of the Islamic world. "

" Amazing to compare Bhutto's discussion of international politics with say, Palin. I guess you have to dumb it down to stay alive! "

" A brilliant woman with a message of hope and inspiration. I'm not sure I agreed with her thesis, as well defended as it was, but her perspective on the Middle East and world politics is invaluable. Definitely worth the read. "

" Well spoken middle-eastern world view of the conflict between Arab Muslim interests and the West. "

" What an interesting book! While I've categorized it as a biography, it's really much more of an extended position paper from Bhutto to the world. In it, she wishes to make three main points. Those points are that: (1) while there is considerable diversity within Islam (as is true for any of the "big three" monotheistic faiths), in recent years it has been hijacked in a manner of speaking to achieve particular anti-Western political ends; (2) that Islam and democracy, the West, and modernity (esp. technology) are not antithetical--with particular emphasis on the democracy variable; and (3) that Islam is very poorly understood in the West, sometimes because of its complexity but just as frequently because of western groups that wish to emphasize the extremist groups to meet their own political agendas (Ann Coulter, anyone?). Bhutto eloquently makes--and demonstrates with benefit of historic and recent examples--the point that, "All children of the Book have suffered from those who would use force in God's name to achieve political objectives" (p. 30). Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West is extremely ambitious in scope. Bhutto provides a wealth of background on Islam, on its history and the dynamic nature of Sharia law. The book gets a bit bogged down in the history of failed democracies across the globe--frequently as a combined result of post-colonial intervention by former colonizers with short-sighted goals of resource extraction (i.e., oil), fighting communism, and/or the war on terror. Despite the long middle bit (which really only seems long because she repeats herself a bit for emphasis), the book is well written, thoroughly researched and, above all the hope that it offers is a fitting testimony to this brave woman and the sacrifice that she, her family (husband remained in Dubai with their underage children so that if the worst happened they would still have one parent), the people of Pakistan and--indeed--the world have made. Sadly, Ms. Bhutto was assassinated just days after delivering her final edited manuscript of the book to her publishers. It's a highly provocative book by a remarkable human, and I thoroughly recommend it. "

" Very good, but a tough read because there is so much information to digest. Still, in the end it made me very emotional with the knowledge of her assasination and now a better understanding of her and the reasons she was willing to risk her life. "

" I think i will re-read this book once i understand more about the PPP. "

" Very political, you can tell that she was still trying to win hearts/minds for electoral purposes (so not necessarily unbiased or truthful), but still worth reading and understanding somewhat of a counter-discourse to popular conceptions of/in Pakistan. "

" The courageous life of Benazir Bhutto will inspire and awe anyone who reads this book. A clear vision of reconciliation instead of war, of democracy, of equality. Perhaps the best argument against the theory of "clash of civilizations" to date. "

" I'm still deciding what I think about the book and Bhutto as a person, but I do think this is a must read in understanding Islam, Pakistan and their relationship with democracy. I learned about a lot that I want to do further research on. "

" I respect Ms. Bhutto more than ever for her last book. "Reconciliation' sheds light on a number of issues and is a book that everyone must read if interested in politics in Pakistan. I wish she had lived to write few more books like this. "

" A sad commentary on world injustice. Interesting to understand the situation in India from Bhutto's viewpoint. "

" Islam, Democracy, and the West; written by Benazir Bhutto, twice prime minister of Pakistan "

" Another reason to be grateful for living in the USA. "

" A very interesting book. Not sure I agree with all the sentiments, but it gives you some insight into Pakistan and Islam. "

" Such an important book. Whether you agree with the Bhutto family politics or not, this book provides invaluable insight into a centuries old conflict. "

" Islam, Democracy, and the West; written by Benazir Bhutto, twice prime minister of Pakistan "

" Very political, you can tell that she was still trying to win hearts/minds for electoral purposes (so not necessarily unbiased or truthful), but still worth reading and understanding somewhat of a counter-discourse to popular conceptions of/in Pakistan. "

" I had always been fascinated with Pakistani culture and with the deceased Prime Minister in particular, so I have enjoyed it. Very insightful. "

" I'm still deciding what I think about the book and Bhutto as a person, but I do think this is a must read in understanding Islam, Pakistan and their relationship with democracy. I learned about a lot that I want to do further research on. "

" This was a good book but hurt my head because it made me think so much! "